Al Franken Celebrates Win at Minnesota Rally

July 1, 2009 -- Hot off a prolonged battle to become a U.S. senator, Democrat Al Franken celebrated his win over former Sen. Norm Coleman today at a long-planned victory rally in St. Paul, Minn.

"What we've been through is just nothing, especially when compared to what so many Minnesotans have been going through during this same period," Franken said, thanking his supporters, his volunteers, his staff and his wife.

Franken will dive right into the thick of things when he arrives in Washington, D.C., next week to be sworn in as Minnesota's junior senator.

His new committee assignments dictate that he'll immediately be thrown into the summer's two major issues dominating Capitol Hill -- health care legislation and the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Franken said that he will serve on the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, as well as the Judiciary panel. He is also assigned to serve on the Senate's Indian Affairs and Aging committees.

"You are jumping into a pot where we are absolutely in the middle of bringing about the greatest changes, the most progressive changes, in American history since the Great Depression," Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., said at today's rally.

Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn, said, "We have a big agenda going on in Washington to put America back to work and we need to have Al Franken there to help us move that agenda forward."

Said Franken: "I wish I could take all of you to fight alongside me. But we cost it out and it's just too much."

The Minnesota Supreme Court Tuesday ruled in favor of comedian-turned-Democratic candidate Franken over Coleman in the 239-day battle for the job. Out of more than 2.4 million votes cast, Franken bested Republican Norm Coleman by 312 votes.

"I received a very gracious call from Sen. Coleman," Franken said Tuesday during a victory speech outside his Minnesota home. "He wished me well. And we agreed that it is time to bring this state together."

"The Supreme Court of Minnesota has spoken and I respect its decision and will abide by the result," Coleman said in a concession speech outside his home in St. Paul. "It's time for Minnesota to come together under the leaders it has chosen and move forward. I join all Minnesotans in congratulating our newest United States Senator – Al Franken."

In a phone conversation with Franken, Coleman added, he told the former Saturday Night Live cast member he is about to begin "the best job he'll ever have."

Coleman refused to speak about his own political future, saying he's now making decisions and plans to make an announcement next week.

Minnesota's Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty has announced he is not running for re-election next year, which has created an open-seat contest for the state's highest job.